Three local security operatives and a teenager have been killed by some unknown gunmen inUmuaka, Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State on Sunday evening.
According to a source in the community, the vigilante members were on a patrol in a bus in the community when the gunmen launched an attack on them at Afor Umuaka.
It was gathered that attackers laid an ambush and opened fire on the security men.
A stray bullet was said to have hit the teenager who died on the spot.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, who confirmed the incident to journalists on Sunday night.
Okoye said a tactical squad had been deployed to append the attackers.
The Commissioner of Police Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, strongly condemned the attack and gruesome murder of the vigilante Personnel of the Umuaka Autonomous Community by gunmen.
The police chief said: “In the wake of the tragic incident that claimed the lives of three gallant vigilantes who were on routine crime prevention patrol and a passerby, the Commissioner of Police has deployed the Command’s Tactical Squad with the available operational resources to go all out in synergy with other security agencies and hunt down the hoodlums responsible for the dastardly act.
“CP Aboki Danjuma expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident and vowed that the command will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the perpetrators are all arrested and brought to justice. He empathized with the families of the deceased victims and prayed for the repose of their souls”, he added.
